Ligularia plant named ‘Last Dance’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Ligularia , ‘Last Dance’, an interspecific hybrid of  Ligularia hiberniflora  and  Farfugium japonicum , characterized by its medium sized leaves with dentate margins, its compact plant habit, and its abundant bright yellow inflorescences that are densely arranged on well-branched scapes.

Botanical classification: Ligularia hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘Last Dance’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLigularia, botanically an interspecific hybrid, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Last Dance’.

The new cultivar resulted from a cross made in the Inventor's garden inMarietta, Ga. in 1998 between an unnamed plant of Ligularia hibernifloraas the female parent and an unnamed plant of Farfugium japonicum (syn.Ligularia tussilaginea) as the male parent (both unpatented). The newcultivar was selected as a single unique plant from the resultingseedlings by the Inventor in 1998.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished bydivision by the Inventor in Marietta, Ga. in 2000. Asexual reproductionof the new culthar by division and tissue culture has shown that theunique features of ‘Last Dance’ are stable and reproduced true to typein successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Last Dance’ as a new and unique cultivar of Ligularia.

-   -   1. ‘Last Dance’ has leaves that intermediate in size in        comparison to its parents.    -   2. ‘Last Dance’ has leaves with a dentate margin.    -   3. ‘Last Dance’ has a compact habit.    -   4. ‘Last Dance’ has yellow composite inflorescences that are        densely clustered on well-branched scapes.

‘Last Dance’ differs from its female parent, Ligularia hiberniflora, inhaving larger leaves, larger and more abundant inflorescences, and ataller plant height. ‘Last Dance’ differs from its male parent,Farfugium japonica, in having leaves with a dentate margin rather thanan entire margin, in having a more compact plant habit, in being shorterin plant height and in having inflorescences that are more abundant andcompact and have a greater number of ray florets that are borne on morewell-branched scapes. ‘Last Dance’ can also be compared to cultivars ofFarfugium japonica, ‘Aureomaculata’ and ‘Jitsuko's Star’.‘Aureomaculata’ differs from ‘Last Dance’ in being shorter in height,having spotted foliage, a lower bloom count, leaf edges that areundulated rather than dentate, and an earlier bloom season. ‘Jitsuko'sStar’ differs from ‘Last Dance’ in having more heart-shaped and cuppedfoliage, in being taller in height in bloom, and in having doubleflowers with star-like ray floret petals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Ligularia. The photographs inthe figures were taken of four-year-old plants of ‘Last Dance’ as grownin Marietta, Ga.

FIG. 1 provides a view of the habit and foliage characteristics of thenew cultivar in bloom,

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the foliage in mid summer and

FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the flowers.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Ligularia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observedfor eight years in Marietta, Ga. with the detailed botanical datacollected on two year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoorsin a 2-quart container in Alpharetta, Ga. The phenotype of the newcultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, andcultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance withthe 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of the Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Blooms for about one month in mid fall in            Georgia.        -   Plant habit.—Clump forming, robust, herbaceous perennial,            compact, with blooms held above the foliage.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about a height of 30 to 40 cm in            bloom (12 to 18 inches) and 45 to 61 cm (18 to 24 inches) in            width.        -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zones 5 to 10.        -   Diseases and pests.—Disease and pest free under the            conditions tested.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Branching habit.—Basal foliage on long petioles.        -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation is the preferred method,            division is also possible.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Broadly ovate to orbicular.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate.        -   Leaf apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Leaf venation.—Palmate, uniquely conspicuous, color on upper            surface 144B near base with other regions matching leaf            color, color on lower surface N77C, surface of veins are            glabrous on upper surface and pubescent on lower surface.        -   Leaf margins.—Dentate with about 7 dentations per side on            leaf 10 cm in length, dentations have small mucronate tip,            slightly undulating.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Basal rosette.        -   Leaf orientation.—Held nearly horizontal to petiole,        -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous on upper surface and puberulent on            lower surface.        -   Leaf color.—Emerging leaves upper surface; 146A, emerging            leaves lower surface; 148B, mature leaves upper surface;            137B and becoming flushed and with spots of N92A, maturing            leaves lower surface; 138C and becoming flushed with N92A,            fall leaves upper surface; blend of N137B, 137A and 137B            with a very narrow margin of N92A, fall leaves lower            surface; 148B and lightly suffused with N92A and a very            narrow margin of N92A.        -   Leaf size.—Matures to an average of 20 to 23 cm in length            and width.        -   Leaf quantity.—New leaves continuously produced, average of            15 on a single division in a 2-quart container in late            summer.        -   Petioles.—Oval in shape, orientation ranges from vertical to            horizontal, average of 9 cm in length and 4 mm in width on            mature leaves, matures to 187A in color, surface is            tomentose with hairs 199C in color.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Type.—Capitulum, heterogamous with ray florets around the            head margin and disk florets in the center, forming a            radiant head, arranged in corymbs on branched scapes.        -   Capitulum number.—Average of 13 per branched scape            (peduncle).        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About 3 weeks until senescence            of ray florets, disk flowers are persistent, a cut flower            will last about 7 days.        -   Capitulum size.—Matures to about 2.5 cm in depth and 5 cm in            diameter, disk size is about 1.8 cm in diameter.        -   Fragrance.—Slight rose scent.        -   Phyllary.—Arranged in 2 rows, outer row; average of 6, 187A            in color, linear in shape, about 7 mm in length and 1.5 mm            in width, glossy surface, inner row; about 12, fused into a            campanulate involucre about 1.5 cm in length and 1.3 cm in            width, un-fused acute apex is about 3 mm in length and 2 mm            in width, color is 144A with apex 187A, surface is sparsely            covered with hairs and semi-glossy.        -   Buds.—Broadly oblong in shape, average of 1.1 cm in diameter            and 1.3 cm in depth, 137C in color and suffused with 187A            with outer phyllary 187A in color and apex of 13B in color.        -   Peduncle.—Branched, main peduncle about 22 cm in length and            an average of 5.5 mm in width with an average of 5 branches            ranging from 1.5 to 11 cm in length and an average of 3 mm            in width, 178A in color, surface is tomentose with hairs            199C in color, average of 3 leaves, same coloration and            surface as basal leaves, sessile, primarily lanceolate in            shape with elongated and truncate base and acute apex, an            average of 3 cm in length in length and 7 mm in width.        -   Pedicels.—187A in color, 5 mm to 1.2 cm in length and an            average of 2.5 mm in width, color is 199A in color due to            surface that is heavily tomentose.        -   Ray florets (female).—Average of 13, narrowly elliptic in            shape, vertical ridges on both surfaces, about 2.4 cm in            length with blade about 2 cm in length and 7 mm in width and            narrow base about 7 mm in length and 1 mm in width, rounded            apex and slightly emarginated, cuneate base, entire margin            except apex, glabrous in texture, initially held upright            about 70° from horizontal and become horizontal to slightly            reflexed as they mature, color of upper and lower surface;            12A with narrow base enclosing the pistil 145D in color.        -   Disk flowers (bisexual).—About 40, tubular in shape,            arranged spirally on a conical receptacle, about 1.7 cm in            length and 4 mm in width, pappus comprised of about 30            bristles about 7 mm in length and 199C in color; 153B in            mass prior to opening, 12A in color when open, comprised of            fused petals that are 12A at apex and becoming 155A at base.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 1, about 1.1 cm in length and 1.5 mm in            width, style; 0.3 mm in width and 9 mm in length, 145D in            color and translucent, surrounded by stamens, stigma; bifid,            each arm is reflexed and about 1 mm in length and 12A in            color, ovary; inferior, about 3 mm in length, 1 mm in width,            and 155A in color.        -   Androcoecium.—Stamens; 4, un-fused, coherent in cylinder            around style, anthers; 4 mm in length and 0.3 mm in width,            basifixed, dehisced longitudinally, 163A in color with apex            165A, filaments; 5 mm in length, 0.3 mm in width, 145C in            color, pollen; not readily distinguishable.        -   Fruit.—Development not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ligularia plant named ‘Last Dance’ asherein illustrated and described.